461 RAW Levi Danielson

461 RAW Levi Danielson

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist May 28, 2025 Duration: 54:24

Levi Danielson is the founder and cider maker at RAW Cider, based in Dayton, Oregon. With roots in the Driftless Region of Minnesota and a cidery nestled among cider apples and pears in the Willamette Valley, Levi's story is one of wild ferments, place-based cider, and planting for the future – both in Oregon and back home.

461 Levi Danielson of RAW Cider Pouring a glass
Levi Danielson

Building RAW Cider

Levi's path began in microbiology and health policy before a leap to France introduced him to wild fermentation and orchard life. After interning and later leading production at Dragon's Head Cider in Washington, Levi launched RAW Cider in 2020 with méthode champenoise ciders that quietly matured during the pandemic.

Since then, RAW Cider has:

  • Opened a year-round tasting room on an orchard in Dayton, Oregon
  • Earned gold and silver medals for its first releases
  • Focused on native yeast fermentation, minimal intervention, and orchard-first practices
  • Planted and top-grafted cider and perry fruit in both Oregon and Minnesota

Pear Ambitions and a Regional Vision

Levi's passion for perry is central to RAW Cider. With 60-year-old pear trees, now top worked with perry pear varieties and wild seedlings grafted in the Mississippi River Valley, plus collaborations in Hood River, he's betting on American perry's future.

He believes Hood River could become the "Domfrontais of the U.S."—a new home for pear-driven sparkling ciders that mirrors the pear region in Normandy, France.

Listen to episode 313: Wild Yeast Fermentations | CiderCon 2022 featuring a panel discussion with Levi Danielson

Contact info for RAW

Mentions in this Cider Chat


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
317: How a "Cyder" Teapot fueled the American Revolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:01
Cider's back story behind the American Revolution In the 1700s ceramic teapots were the political bumper stickers of the day! In this episode we hear about the Cyder Act teapot that the Museum of the American Revolution…
316: Celebrating New Zealander Alex Peckham | 1962-2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:50
Alex Peckham New Zealand's Premier Cidermaker With wit and charm and dashing good looks Alex Peckham charmed all who had the pleasure of meeting him. The fact that he produced exemplary ciders was merely a side bonus. I…
315: Climate Change & Apple Disease | CiderCon 2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:43
Climate Change insights for Orchardists Elizabeth Garofalo of the University of Massachusetts is an Extension Educator and part of the Fruit Team. This workshop presented how regional climates are shifting and the impact…
314: Top of the Mitten | Michigan Cider Terroir [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:47
Northern Michigan a.k.a. Top of the Mitten A cider tasting with Left Foot Charley, Tandem Cider and Presque Isle Farm Cider as presented at CiderCon20222. Nicole LeGrand Leibon of LaNose Knows consulting moderated this p…
313: Wild Yeast Fermentations | CiderCon 2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:04
Wild, Clean & Free: Harnessing the Beauty of Wild-Fermenting, Without the Flaws Was presented at CiderCon2022 held in Richmond, Virginia in February. The seminar was moderated by Christine Walter of Bauman's Cider. Three…
312: Angels Dressed Like Bears | Michael Phillips 1957-2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:19
Tribute to Author and Orchardists Michael Phillips I spoke with his long time friend Alan Surprenant of Brook Farm Orchard in Ashfield, Massachusetts on a cool March day a little over two week's after the unexpected pass…
311: Saving Bears by Making Cider | Farmstead Cider, WY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:52
Farmstead Wyoming's First Commercial Cidery Ian McGregor who cofounded Farmstead Cider with Orion Bellorado holds the title of being both the first commercial cidery in the state of Wyoming and as of this episode publish…
310: D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery | Youngstown, OH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:44
The DOPE Brand Hannah Ferguson is giving us all a reason to visit Youngstown, Ohio. Her DOPE brand is helping to introduce the city to cider like never before. The bio says that the DOPE brand is about a "Winemaker, Mark…
309: Blue Bee Cider | Richmond, VA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:36
Blue Bee Cider Founder Courtney Mailey Courtney Mailey, always knew she wanted to be a farmer of sorts. In the high school she took part in an aptitude test with the result showing that she was to be a farmer. By the way…
308: Virginia's First Lady of Cider | Diane Flynt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:45
Flynt could have grown pot, but it was apples that really caught her eye Flynt casually joked during this interview that perhaps she could have chosen to become a pot (cannabis) grower as a career before becoming an appl…